Steubenville Christmas parade set for Saturday

December 7, 2012

STEUBENVILLE -The city's Eastern Gateway Community College Christmas parade will include nearly 90 entries for parade-watchers to enjoy when it begins at noon Saturday downtown.

The route will proceed south from North Street to Adams Street along Fourth Street. Floats, bands, marching units, queens, dancing groups, trick horse riders, Mickey and Minnie, Froggy from WOGH-FM and others will escort the arrival of Santa Claus in the city.

Sponsoring this year's event are the Steubenville Visitors Bureau, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, WTOV-TV and Eastern Gateway Community College, and the event will be broadcast live on WTOV-TV and streamed on its website, according to Judy Bratten, co-organizer and director of the Steubenville Visitors Center and Historic Fort Steuben.

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Warren ScottRINGING IN THE SEASON — Children in the Wintersville United Methodist Church Bell Choir have been practicing for the Eastern Gateway Community College Steubenville Christmas Parade, in which they will perform aboard the Herald-Star float. It will be among nearly 90 units in the parade, which will begin at noon on Fourth Street on Saturday. The choir also will perform for the church’s Christmas program at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 16. Behind them are the choir’s directors, Carol Sue Evans, Michele Purviance, Michele Gribben and Ashley Burns and the Rev. Clint Quillen, the church’s pastor. The group was formed and directed by Shirley and Michele Gribben from 2006 to 2009 and revived this year.

"The parade also is being helped with efforts from the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, the Franciscan University of Steubenville and the Steubenville Lions Club. The Herald-Star is doing a lot of great promotion for us, and (the newspaper) is going to have a wonderful float as well.

"We have 88 entries, ranging from decorated ambulances to a 'trick' horseback rider," Bratten continued. "We're looking forward to having Rich Donnelly as our grand marshal. He's a big fan of his hometown."

Donnelly, a Steubenville native and Catholic Central High School graduate, has had in a career in professional baseball that has spanned more than 40 years, including a stint as a coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also has a second career as a motivational speaker, according to Bratten.

During the parade, the lobby of the Grand Theater at 121 S. Fourth St. will be open for viewing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can see the progress being made on the theater's restoration project.

Prior to the parade, the Steubenville Parks and Recreation Department will present Breakfast with Santa at Froehlich's Classic Corner, 501 Washington St. Reservations for 100 children are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by calling (740) 283-6000, extension 4006. The free breakfast runs from 10 a.m. to noon.

No parking will be allowed from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday on Fourth Street from Clinton to Adams streets.

Organizers are asking for no vehicles to be parked on Dock or Logan streets during the same time period Saturday. The parade will be organized Saturday morning in the vicinity of Steubenville High School.